Imagine this scenario.

You ring up your boss one day and tell her:

“I’m not coming into work… I need to watch Netflix!”

The next day, you call up again.

“Erm, sorry, I can’t make it today, I’ve got too much to do around the house because I’ve got people coming to stay this weekend.”

And then another day you pick up the phone and say:

“I’m going to be late this afternoon because lunch is taking me AGES to cook.”

What do you think would happen?

After a while, you’d probably be sacked.

But the truth is, you wouldn’t dare do it.

You’re getting paid for a job, and unless you’re ill or there’s a serious crisis, you’ll do what you’re contracted to do.

Yet when it comes to a project for yourself (such as creating a course), you might not feel this same obligation.

You make a plan to do some work on your course this week, but all kinds of life situations get in the way…

Family members asking for help… laundry needing doing… friends asking you out for a drink… cupboards running out of food….

Some days you feel too tired after work, too under the weather, or just not ‘into it’.

Maybe there’s an addictive show on TV you end up binge-watching, or an exciting new movie in the cinema.

The thing is, you wouldn’t prioritise these over getting to work on time.

No matter how tired you feel or how much you’d love to slump in front of a TV for the day, you still push yourself to do the work you’ve been contracted to do.

So why not have the same attitude towards course creation or any other important project for that matter?

Because it’s all too easy to let your project slide down the priority list as the demands of everyday life clamour for your attention.

But it means that your glorious end goal of having your own passive income generator moves further and further away.

It means that the freedom and exciting possibilities that come with running your own home business might never happen.

And that would be a shame.

So, if you TRULY want to change your life for the better, you need to take on a different attitude to your course project.

One way to do this is to EMPLOY YOURSELF.

How to Make a Course Creation Job Contract… With Yourself!

From today, act as if you have given yourself a 3-month contract (or 60 days or a month, it’s up to you) to produce a course.

Write it down like it’s an official contract, too.

Establish your working hours by allocating a specific number of hours every week that you NEED to complete.

And set yourself an end goal, like having a completed digital course by a specific date.

Then put in place the same kind of systems you might have at work, but apply them to your home-based side enterprise.

For example…

• Hold yourself accountable – you wouldn’t tell your boss you’re skipping work for a non-urgent reason, so don’t let these same reasons push your vital course work out of the way. When you view this as a high-priority endeavour, you’ll be more likely to stay disciplined and focused on your goal.
• Set boundaries – tell your loved ones about your work hours and goals, and kindly request their support and understanding. No family member or friend would expect you to skip a day from a proper job, so they shouldn’t do this with your side income project either.
• Create a working schedule – dedicate a specific number of hours each week to your digital course. Use an online calendar to book them into slots, and treat these slots as sacred and non-negotiable, just as you would with a paid job. This will help you stay on track and keep that valuable time protected.
• Set firm weekly goals and targets – establishing targets helps you break down the course creation process into manageable steps. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to ensure you maintain focus and momentum. Regularly review and adjust your goals to align with your progress.
• Use spreadsheets and online tools – managing your course creation requires organisation and planning. Use spreadsheets and online tools, such as Google Sheets, Google Calendar, and Trello, to track your goals, expenses, and tasks.
• Delegate and outsource – just like you might take tricky or specialised jobs to other departments at work, you can also delegate them as a home-based course creator. Use Artificial Intelligence tools for tasks like writing, transcription and planning. Platforms like Upwork or Fiverr offer access to a range of freelancers who can help you with specialised tasks, such as graphic design.
• Reward Yourself – when you reach significant milestones, reward yourself with a special gift or experience like a night out, spa treatment, or a fancy dinner.
• Conduct Honest Monthly Self-Appraisals – at the end of each month, reflect on your achievements, setbacks, and areas for improvement.

Use this feedback to refine your approach, set new goals, and ensure that you stay on track in your digital course creation journey.

It might feel strange to employ yourself in an official capacity – but then again, this is what ‘being your own boss’ means!

Give it a go, and see how much more productive you become!

And of course, it’s much easier to do this with help so if you want my guidance on creating a successful online course just email me at [email protected]